Swallowing the Stars: My Comprehension is Beyond the Heavens!

Chapter 184 The Essence of Time!

The city lord's mansion was incredibly spacious, with numerous buildings, each occupying a very large area.

Following the instructions of the black-robed messenger, Rorschach and his companions entered through the leftmost entrance and found themselves in a long corridor.

On both sides of this corridor are tall bronze doors.

Each bronze door bears ancient inscriptions.

Luo Xia took a look and knew that the writing was the name of those Chaos Monuments.

In front of each door stood a kind-looking old man.

These old men all looked the same.

Looking at it for too long can easily give people a sense of horror.

Rorschach quickly found the bronze door of the Cosmic Chaos Monument, and he and Berlan stood before it.

"You may call me Lord Kandri."

The kind-faced old man spoke to Rorschach and Berlan.

Of the geniuses in this cohort, only two chose the "Cosmic Chaos Monument".

"Lord Candri." Rorschach and Berlan bowed respectfully.

"You two must be Rorschach and Berlan, right?" Kander said with a friendly smile. "One of you came in first place, and the other second. You both chose the Cosmic Chaos Monument. It seems you're quite confident in your comprehension. Alright, there's no one in the comprehension chamber of the Cosmic Chaos Monument right now, so you can go in directly."

After muttering something to himself, the kind old man led Rorschach and Berlan into the secret room.

Rumble...

The bronze gate slowly opened, and chaotic energy swirled and permeated the air.

Rorschach and Berlan exchanged a glance and slowly walked into the secret room.

The secret room was very large, with chaotic air currents swirling around it, making people feel relaxed and comfortable.

After walking a few steps, Rorschach and Berlan saw a huge stone monument standing in front of them!

The two walked a few more steps forward and were finally able to see the inscriptions on the stone tablet.

This stone tablet is over a hundred meters tall, and you can see nine engraved pictures when you look up from the bottom.

These nine engraved images are very mysterious and strange, as if they illustrate the birth process of a universe.

Rorschach sat down cross-legged and began to contemplate.

The bottom image on the stone tablet has only one dot on it.

This is like a fundamental particle that makes up the universe, or like a "singularity" before the universe was born.

"The first image may seem simple, but it points directly to the essence of the universe..."

As Rorschach looked at the first picture, his comprehension began to explode, and he was instantly immersed in it, beginning to pursue the truth and essence of the universe!

Bolan, who was standing next to him, also began to ponder.

Neither of them disturbed the other...

The Cosmic Chaos Monument is a cultivation path that combines the study of space and time.

It should be the most difficult of the 52 Chaos Monuments. Even the Giant Axe Chaos Monument may not be as difficult as the Cosmic Chaos Monument.

In the original novel, Bolan made a mistake by choosing the Cosmic Chaos Monument, which ultimately led to him being surpassed by Luo Feng.

Why say that Berlan ruined himself?

Because his talent lies in the laws of space.

If Bolan focuses on comprehending the laws of space, his strength will definitely be far ahead, leaving Luo Feng and the others far behind.

But if he insists on cultivating both the laws of time and space, then he is overestimating himself and making trouble for himself.

—I don't have enough talent!

Rorschach didn't have this worry.

His extraordinary comprehension allowed him to comprehend the laws of time and space at a speed that no one else could match, even though he cultivated both!

Rorschach looked at the "dots" in the first picture.

He felt his mind was boiling, and countless inspirations were bursting forth!

His extraordinary comprehension allowed him to become completely absorbed in it in an instant.

He seemed to sense the fluctuations of the universe's operation from that one "point"!

It's as if I'm seeing a scene from before the birth of the universe...

"Time is a very abstract concept."

"It doesn't actually exist."

"Time is a concept that intelligent life uses to describe the movement of matter in the universe."

"For example, on Earth, the rising and setting of the sun is essentially a celestial phenomenon caused by the movement of stars. However, humans have subjectively divided this process of celestial movement into time concepts such as morning, noon, and evening..."

"When people see the sun rise in the east, they know that it is dawn. When the sun sets, they know that evening is coming and 'one day' is about to end..."

"The theory of human lifespan is essentially the process of metabolism of the body's cells... but humans use the abstract concept of 'time' to divide human lifespan into stages such as infancy, toddlerhood, childhood, youth, adulthood, middle age, and old age..."

Therefore, time, in essence, is a description of the movement processes at the material level of the universe!

"If matter is still in motion, the concept of 'time' will arise."

"If matter does not move, it is static, and thus the concept of 'time' is lost. In other words, it is a kind of 'time standing still' phenomenon in our minds! It can also be understood as 'eternity'!"

"Time stands still: that is, matter stops moving!"

"The flow of time: that is, matter in motion!"

"The three tenses of past, present, and future that intelligent life subjectively perceives are merely a description of the movement of matter in the universe."

A series of thoughts flashed through Luo Xia's mind.

With his extraordinary comprehension, he began to understand the essence of "time"!

In an instant, in the secret room filled with chaotic energy, a different kind of vast and distant aura suddenly appeared around Luo Xia.

The aura was so strong that it disturbed Bolan, who was meditating nearby.

Originally, Berlan was also immersed in contemplation, looking at the "dot" on the first picture, he felt as if he had seen the truth of the universe.

This feeling is wonderful.

He was completely absorbed in it.

But this wonderful state of mind was suddenly "disturbed".

Berlan frowned slightly and looked in the direction of Rorschach. He saw that Rorschach was radiating a hazy halo, which swirled and appeared vast and distant.

"This guy..."

Berlan was shocked. He could sense that Rorschach had made great strides in his understanding of the laws of time!

"As expected of the guy who defeated me."

A surge of fighting spirit rose within Berlan.

Before meeting Rorschach, Berlan never considered anyone else as a rival.

His only opponent is himself.

But after being defeated by Rorschach, Rorschach became his target.

"I won't give up so easily!"

Bolan thought to himself, "I am definitely the strongest!"

He quietly distanced himself from Rorschach to avoid being influenced by him, and then immersed himself in his meditation once again.

The first image on the Chaos Monument is a "dot".

The second picture shows two "dots".

The third picture shows eight "dots".

The fourth image shows eight "points" forming eight "lines," each line representing a lower-level law. These lines of laws can merge to form two "lines"—representing time and space.

The fifth image is a "face". The engraved image is very abstract, but you can tell at a glance that it is a "face".

The sixth image is an octahedron in three-dimensional shape.

The seventh image is even more abstract. The octahedron appears to have been split in space, but in terms of time, the split parts perfectly reassemble into the octahedron.

The eighth image breaks down the octahedron in time and then merges it in space.

The ninth picture is a circle. It looks like a dot, a surface, or a body... It is all-encompassing, as if it includes a complete universe.

The first four pictures are all easy to understand.

However, starting from the fifth picture, it becomes abstract and very difficult to understand.

Luo Xia finally understood why the Cosmic Chaos Stele was the most difficult to comprehend among all the Chaos Steles. Even the Giant Axe Chaos Stele was simpler in terms of difficulty than the Cosmic Chaos Stele!

The first image on the Cosmic Chaos Monument not only reflects the essence of time but also the essence of space.

Because space, in essence, is also the accumulation of matter. From point to line, then from line to surface, from surface to volume... this is the process of space formation.

However, space is not as abstract as time.

The first image of the Cosmic Chaos Monument is very difficult!

Because it explains the essence of the universe right from the very beginning!

The essence of time and space!

But once you thoroughly understand this picture, you will be able to better understand and comprehend the second to fourth pictures!

Time passed day by day.

Luo Xia was completely immersed in his comprehension. With the help of his terrifying comprehension, his understanding of the laws of time and space was improving rapidly!

Especially the laws of space.

Luo Xia possesses a clone of the Demon Slayer Clan.

This clone was originally a favorite of space. Now, with the further understanding of the mysteries of the Cosmic Chaos Stele, its comprehension of the laws of space has reached an extremely profound level!

Rumble...

Seven days passed in the blink of an eye.

The bronze gate slowly opened.

Rorschach and Berlan were both absorbed in their insights and did not notice the door opening.

"Come out, everyone!"

At that moment, a voice entered Luo Xia's mind, startling him and pulling him out of his immersive state of enlightenment.

Rorschach and Berlan woke up at the same time, exchanged a glance, and then walked toward the door.

Stepping out of the threshold, Rorschach and Berlan arrived at the front of the meditation chamber. They bowed to Kander and then prepared to leave.

Candri suddenly called out to them, "You two little guys, wait a minute."

"Lord Kandri, is there anything I can help you with?"

Luo Xia mustered his courage and asked.

Kandri smiled kindly and said, "This is your first time entering the Enlightenment Chamber, so let me remind you. After you leave here, first find a place to stay for the next thirty years of your cultivation. Then, enter the virtual universe and apply to enter the Bridge to Heaven."

"The Bridge to Heaven?" Bolan asked with a slight look of confusion.

Candri laughed and said, "You'll find out once you enter the virtual universe network and then the Skybridge. Now, you two can leave."

With doubts in their hearts, Berlan and Rorschach bowed to Kander again and then left.

On the way out of the city lord's mansion, Luo Xia noticed that Bo Lan seemed to want to say something to him, but didn't speak.

He couldn't help but ask, "Is there something you want to say?"

Berlan hesitated for a moment, then shook his head. "It's nothing."

"Just say what you have to say."

"It's nothing."

"Tsk... Alright, I'll be going then."

Luo Xia bid farewell to Bo Lan and went to a deserted small building near the city lord's mansion to use as his training ground for the next thirty years.

Berlan watched Rorschach leave. He had originally wanted to ask Rorschach about his understanding and feelings about the Cosmic Chaos Monument, but... he didn't dare to ask.

"Probably about the same as me."

Berlan murmured to himself, then left the city lord's mansion, found a deserted building nearby, and entered the virtual universe.

……

On the other hand, after recognizing his cultivation residence as his master, Luo Xia did not rush to enter the virtual universe or apply to enter the Tongtian Bridge.

He knew that the Bridge to Heaven was a place to test the progress of understanding the Chaos Stele.

He has just come out of the meditation chamber of the Cosmic Chaos Stele, so there is no need for him to rush to the Bridge to Heaven.

After all, he hadn't fully digested the insights he gained in the secret room yet.

"Then, let's try to deduce the first image in reverse..."

On the rooftop of his cultivation residence, Luo Xia sat cross-legged, gazing up at the sky as he pondered what kind of thinking and logic the Lord of Chaos City had when he inscribed the first image on the Cosmic Chaos Stele.

Above the heavens, at the cracks in the universe, strands of laws appeared.

These threads of law include not only the laws of space and time, but also the eight fundamental laws of metal, wood, water, fire, earth, light, lightning, and wind...

Rorschach looked at these threads of law, while recalling the first image of the Cosmic Chaos Monument.

He was pondering, he was deducing...

Suddenly, he stretched out a finger and pointed a dot on the ground in front of him!

boom!

The moment he touched that "dot," a vast aura of law rose from his body, startling the other immortals and even geniuses who were comprehending it!

Those powerful beings standing high in the sky also looked down and gazed at Luo Xia.

A being with two horns on its forehead whispered, "It's that little guy, Luo Xia. Hmm... such a powerful aura of law is erupting from him, has he gained some understanding?"

Some people said, "No wonder he won first place in this year's Genius Battle. His aura of law is comparable to that of some World Lords."

"He must have just come from the Chaos Monument, right?"

"It seems that he has completely digested the insights he gained from the Chaos Stele."

"That's amazing."

These beings whispered among themselves and did not disturb Rorschach.

When we entered Chaos City, the black-robed envoy said: We must not disturb other people's enlightenment.

So at this moment, although everyone was surprised by the aura that Rorschach had unleashed, no one came looking for him.

After pointing that finger, Luo Xia seemed to be deep in thought.

A moment later, he smiled and asked Babata, "Babata, what time is it now?"

"Seven days have passed since you left the secret chamber of the Cosmic Chaos Monument."

Babata replied.

Luo Xia shook his head and chuckled, "I didn't expect it would take another seven days to digest and comprehend what I've learned. Where are my older brother and the others?"

"Your older brother and the others just came out of the meditation chamber. He just sent you a message asking about the Bridge to Heaven," Babata said.

Rorschach said, "It seems that Lord Candri has also told my elder brother and the others about the Skybridge."

"Your older brother probably thought you had already been to the Bridge to Heaven, which is why he came to ask you," Babata said. "Six days ago, I received a message from the Virtual Universe Company that Berlan, who chose the Cosmic Chaos Monument with you, had already passed through the first and second levels of the Bridge to Heaven."

Upon hearing this, Luo Xia sent a message to Luo Feng: "Brother, where are you now?"

Luo Feng quickly replied, "I'm at Tongtian Bridge now. Haven't you been here yet?"

"Yes, after leaving the meditation chamber, I digested what I learned in my cultivation residence," Luo Xia replied, then said to Babata, "Let's go take a look at the Bridge to Heaven too."

Babata nodded.

……

Virtual Universe, Yuxiang Mountain, Manor No. 113 in the Primitive Zone.

Rorschach and Babata appeared at the manor.

"Your Highness!"

Upon seeing Rorschach appear, a group of servants and guards hurriedly bowed.

Luo Xia nodded slightly and instructed Babata to proceed, "Apply for entry into the Skybridge for me."

Babata nodded and immediately contacted the main system of the virtual universe to submit the application.

A short while later, a voice rang in Rorschach's mind:

"Identity confirmed, Rorschach. You have permanently gained access to the Skybridge. I hope you will strive to reach the end of the Skybridge and begin the teleportation!"

Swish!

An unseen force descended, and Rorschach vanished from the manor.

……

Virtual universe, a special dimensional space.

This dimension contains an endless ocean.

And in the ocean, there is a beautiful island.

Along the edge of the island are 52 ports, each with an endless bridge extending towards the horizon...

Rorschach suddenly appeared in the central square of the island.

"Xia, you're here."

Having received news from Luo Xia, Luo Feng was already waiting here.

There were nine other young people around Luo Feng.

These people, like Luo Feng, were all geniuses who chose the Nine Universe Chaos Stele.

"Brother, when did you arrive?" Luo Xia asked Luo Feng.

Luo Feng said, "We've only been here a short time ourselves."

As he spoke, he looked at Luo Xia and said, "I thought you had already been here. After all, Bolan, who chose the Cosmic Chaos Monument with you, has already opened up the first and second levels of the bridge to heaven."

"What is this Heavenly Bridge?" Rorschach asked, feigning ignorance.

Luo Feng had obviously learned the specific information about the Tongtian Bridge from the guardian Baffin, and now that his younger brother was asking, he immediately told him everything he knew.

"Simply put, the 52 Chaos Steles represent the 52 cultivation schools of mankind."

"And the Bridge to Heaven is the test for these 52 schools of thought."

"The higher the level you can clear, the deeper your understanding of the playstyle is."

"At the same time, each time you clear one level of the Sky Bridge, you will receive a seven-day opportunity for enlightenment. If you can clear all 18 levels, you will gain permanent residency in the Initial Universe."

"I understand." Rorschach nodded and asked, "Brother, how do we get onto the Sky Bridge?"

Luo Feng pointed to the man in black robes not far away and said:

"That is the guardian of this plane, Lord Baffin. You can go find him. There are people waiting at the Tongtian Bridge of our Nine Universe Chaos Stele."

Rorschach then approached the man in black robes, bowed, and said, "Greetings, Lord Guardian."

Baffin smiled and said, "Hello, Rorschach. Are you going to cross the bridge to the Cosmic Chaos Monument?"

"Yes, sir."

"The bridge to heaven at the Cosmic Chaos Monument is currently empty, so you can go straight in."

"Understood."

Luo Xia nodded, and then he transformed into a streak of light and flew towards the Bridge to Heaven, which represented the Chaos Monument of the Universe.

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(End of this chapter)